News sport : Duke makes quick work of cold-shooting San Diego State

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To stay competitive with top-seeded Duke on Sunday, San Diego State needed to hit an abnormal number of jump shots, contain Jahlil Okafor on the low block and keep the Blue Devils out of transition.


Unfortunately for the Aztecs, they really didn't accomplish any of those things, which explains why they endured a 68-49 pounding at the hands of a superior team.


A cold-shooting San Diego State team that has struggled offensively all season without graduated star point guard Xavier Thames endured an especially frigid performance. Winston Shepard was the only player in double figures as the Aztecs shot 31.6 percent as a team and 2 of 17 from behind the arc.


Wayward jump shots and 11 turnovers proved to be a terrible combination for San Diego State because they fueled Duke's fast break attack. Justise Winslow and Quinn Cook were especially effective attacking in transition and scoring before San Diego State could set its vaunted defense, which was one of the nation's best all season.


The other reason Duke shot 54.5 percent from the floor was because Okafor got pretty much anything he wanted in the paint against San Diego State's array of quicker but willowy big men. Nineteen of Okafor's 26 points came before halftime when the Aztecs were sometimes slow to double team.


Duke's dominant victory sends the Blue Devils to the Sweet 16 where they will face fifth-seeded Utah in Houston. Joining the Utes and Blue Devils in Houston is 11th-seeded UCLA and either second-seeded Gonzaga or seventh-seeded Iowa.


For San Diego State, Sunday's one-sided loss ends a season with some impressive accomplishments and frustrating moments. The Aztecs won 27 games, captured a share of the Mountain West crown and defeated St. John's in the opening round of the NCAA tournament, but they were never able to fully capitalize on their formidable defense because they simply could not score.


The biggest issue was the lack of a true point guard on the roster, forcing converted shooting guards Trey Kell and Aqeel Quinn to handle the role. A lack of consistent outside shooting also hurt, as did Dwayne Polee and Malik Pope both missing large chunks of the season.


Steve Fisher's Xs-and-Os wizardry briefly made Sunday's game competitive when he went to a small lineup that forced Okafor to defend to the perimeter. Pope buried two threes over Okafor that helped the Aztecs get within seven midway through the second half, but Mike Kryzewski countered by having his center guard non-shooter J.J. O'Brien and that was really San Diego State's only offensive flurry.


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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!







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News sport : Virginia's Darion Atkins: 'I wanted it more' than teammates

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Virginia's Darion Atkins was so disappointed on Sunday that he couldn't hide his frustration over seeing his college career end with a 60-54 loss to Michigan State in the NCAA tournament.


How bad was the senior forward feeling after seeing his college career end with a second straight loss to the Spartans in the NCAA tournament? Bad enough that the publicly questioned the desire of his teammates and then described the second-seeded Cavaliers using a perjorative for female anatomy.


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Here's the full-context transcript of Atkins two responses (via @martinrickman):



Q: You played so well in the first half. Did you feel like you were alone out there at times?

A: To be honest, yeah, I felt like I wanted it more than a few other guys on the team. I felt like I tried to rally everyone together and bring everyone together in the second half than the first half. It was just a little bit too late to get things going.




Q: About 16 and a half minutes left, [Branden] Dawson scores after Michigan State gets two offensive rebounds. [Assistan coach] Jason Williford jumped off the bench and stuck his finger in [Mike] Tobey's chest and started yelling at you guys. Was that a particularly heated timeout for you guys?

A: Yeah, that was. That was a gut check and heat check. I felt like we were just playing like some p------ to be honest. I mean, I don't know.



To his credit, Watkins did play with a lot of energy, turning in 10 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks. One early rejection of an Alvin Ellis dunk served as the lone early highlight for Virginia.



Of course, it's not news that the rest of the Virginia team struggled, shooting only 30 percent from the field and 12 percent from behind the three-point line.


But while several of his teammates might agree with Atkins' assessment, it's probably a good bet that Atkins apologize to them for his comments once the heat of disappointment has worn off.


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Kevin Kaduk is a writer for Yahoo Sports . Have a tip? Email him at kevinkaduk@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!







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News sport : Brian Vickers says he's on blood thinners for 3 months

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Brian Vickers said Sunday that he'll be on blood-thinning medication for three months after doctors discovered he had blood clots in his lungs.


This is the third time Vickers has had issues with blood clots take him out of the car. Vickers can't race as long as he's taking blood thinners.


He said he felt pain while flying to Los Angeles from a sponsor appearance in Florida. Vickers said he initially tried to convince himself he was fine, but when the pain persisted after he and his wife Sarah got to their hotel, they went to the hospital.


"Unfortunately, on the CT scan, I did have small clots," Vickers said. "It was still early stage. I did mostly listen to my own advice, which was to go to the doctor as soon as you think something is wrong. I probably could have gotten there a few hours sooner than I did, but I did get there pretty early so we caught it. I had small blood clots in both lungs. That's that. At that point I had to reach out to [Michael Waltrip Racing vice president Ty Norris] and everyone at MWR and our partners and kind of relay the news. I was going to be back on blood thinners for at least three months and then try to figure out what's next from there."


Michael Waltrip Racing announced Vickers' absence on Friday. Brett Moffitt is filling in for him in the No. 55 car and will likely be his replacement for as long as Vickers is out.


In 2013, Vickers had clots in his right leg sideline him for the remainder of the season and he was first forced to miss races in 2010 with Red Bull Racing after doctors found blood clots in his leg and lungs. He classified the pain then as a 10 on a 10-scale. The pain earlier in the week was a four or five.


Vickers also missed the first two races of the season after a procedure to install a patch in his heart. The surgery was to replace a faulty patch that was installed after a heart condition was discovered when Vickers first had clotting issues in 2010.


He received a waiver to be eligible for the Chase after missing Daytona and Atlanta, but a waiver likely won't be in the discussion during this absence. Because of the duration, Vickers' chances of being in the top 30 in points are slim to none.


Vickers was also asked if he wondered about his clots being potentially career-ending. While he said the thoughts have crossed his mind, he has every intention of coming back to race when he's able.


"That's a fair question," Vickers said. "Am I worried? Of course. Have I given up hope? No. What I know right now is that I unfortunately had to go back on blood thinners. To be clear – I have not been on blood thinners. If I were, I probably wouldn't have blood clots and wouldn't be able to race. Being off of blood thinners, working with my doctors closely to figure out how to solve the problems of the past and get off blood thinners is what has allowed me to get back in the race car ... Certainly your questions crossed my mind about a thousand times in the last 24 to 48 hours, but the funny thing is I've been told now three times that I'll never race again and I've raced the last two weeks. I'll never give up and listen, if it comes to that, then I'll move on to the next thing in life. I've always felt this way, I still feel this way today sitting here. I love racing more than any other activity. I don't love it more than my wife, who takes good care of me, or my family or my friends, but it's not who I am, it's something that I do, something that I love doing. There's more to life than just this. I think keeping that perspective is important, but it's also my favorite thing to do in the world. I want to try to come back."


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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!







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News sport : Michigan State ends Virginia's season for a second straight year

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The ACC's outright regular season champion is also its first team eliminated from the NCAA tournament.


Second-seeded Virginia could not survive Michigan State's upset bid for a second straight season, falling to the seventh-seeded Spartans 60-54 on Sunday in the round of 32. Michigan State also ended the Cavaliers' season last year in the Sweet 16.


What hurt Virginia most this year was early and late heroics of Michigan State guard Travis Trice. The senior had 13 points in the opening six minutes to power the Spartans to a 15-4 lead and then he also had a huge late shot clock 3-pointer to extend the gap to eight with less than three minutes to play.


Virginia cut the lead to two early in the second half and to four several times thereafter, but the Cavaliers simply didn't make enough shots to keep pace. They shot 29.8 percent from the field and 2 of 17 from behind the arc, only staying competitive because they got so many offensive rebounds and Michigan State missed 13 free throws.


Michigan State's victory earns the Spartans a Sweet 16 matchup with either third-seeded Oklahoma or 11th-seeded Dayton, a remarkable accomplishment considering all the team lost from last year. Gary Harris, Adreian Payne and Keith Appling are all gone from last year's Elite Eight team and Tom Izzo didn't bring in his usual star-studded recruiting class.


An early NCAA tournament exit is sour finish to an otherwise sweet season for Virginia. The Cavaliers won 30-plus games and the ACC title for a second straight season, but they'll probably always wonder what might have been had second-leading scorer Justin Anderson not fractured a pinkie finger in mid-February.


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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!







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Mata’s ‘best game’ for United

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Juan Mata’s two goals at the Anfield home of United’s arch foes on Sunday showcased his talent.


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Liverpool – Juan Mata, it appears, has struggled to make a lasting impression on Louis van Gaal at Manchester United just as he failed to woo Jose Mourinho at his previous club Chelsea.


The Spanish playmaker’s two well-taken goals in a 2-1 Premier League victory at the home of arch rivals Liverpool on Sunday, however, again showcased his undoubted talent and may force Dutchman Van Gaal into a rethink.


Mata’s stop-start United career since his 37.1 million pounds ($61.22 million) move fom Chelsea 14 months ago has reflected his time at Stamford Bridge, where he was often overlooked by Mourinho despite being twice previously the club’s player of the season.


A move north was meant to revive Mata but, although he finished his first season in red strongly and began this campaign as first choice, the Spaniard appeared to have gone off his manager’s radar when it came to choosing his first eleven.


That was until last weekend when Mata made his first league start since January 17 in place of the suspended Angel Di Maria against Tottenham.


An impressive display in a 3-0 victory was enough to retain his place at Anfield and Mata more than justified Van Gaal’s faith, opening the scoring with a low shot drilled across Simon Mignolet in the first half.


After the break, he then swivelled acrobatically to volley in substitute Di Maria’s chip.


“I think it’s my best game in a United shirt, yes. It’s a massive game, probably the biggest in English football, so to score two goals is great for me,” Mata told Sky Sports.


“The second goal has to be up there with my best. After Steven Gerrard was sent off we needed a second goal because they pushed us to the end.


“It was important for me. The last few months I’ve not had the best moment. It is the manager who decides but I’m happy today.”


Van Gaal was sufficiently impressed, but like Mourinho at Chelsea who preferred Oscar, Willian and Eden Hazard in the three creative positions behind the lone striker, said Mata did not always fit into his formation.


“Now he is playing as a false right winger and the communication with (Ander) Herrera and (Antonio) Valencia gives him more opportunities,” Van Gaal told reporters.


“I think he was one of my most consistent players. I am not amazed, but I am very happy for him.” – Reuters






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News sport : Marcus Smart out Sunday to serve 1-game suspension for hitting Matt Bonner in groin

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Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart will miss Sunday's game against the Detroit Pistons as he serves a one-game suspension for hitting Matt Bonner in the groin during the Celtics' 101-89 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night.


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The below-the-belt strike in question took place early in the fourth quarter of Friday's contest at the AT&T Center in San Antonio:



Just past the nine-minute mark of the final frame, Smart reared back and rocked the San Antonio big man south of the border, earning him a flagrant foul-2 and an automatic ejection. Smart finished with 10 points on 3-for-9 shooting, four assists, one steal and one turnover in 23 minutes of floor time in the loss, Boston's second straight following a five-game winning streak that helped put them squarely in the mix for one of the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.


Smart tried to defend himself after Friday's game, claiming the low blow was a natural and unintentional outgrowth of being screened by Spurs center Aron Baynes, according to Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald:


"He had his arms up high, and the way he hit me threw my body back, so it forced all my momentum to come forward. And [Bonner] just happened to jump in the way as I was to rip through and rip up, and he got caught. I mean, like I told him, I wasn't trying to intentionally do it ... It was just a freak accident, [an] inadvertent arm that happened to connect."

His coach disagreed. Said Brad Stevens, "From my standpoint, it looks like an unacceptable play. That's what I said. I had not seen it when I spoke to the team and spoke to Marcus, but you can’t do that. Simple as that."

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It seems fair to suspect that Bonner, the recipient of the groin strike, would agree with Stevens' assessment. However, the long-tenured Spurs reserve — who's become something of a folk hero among a certain cohort of basketball fans over the years — found himself on the receiving end of something far more pleasant in the aftermath of the Friday night quarrel, according to Dan McCarney of the San Antonio Express-News:


The chants rolled down from the AT&T Center stands, the type normally reserved for only the greatest of athletic achievements.

“Bonner! Bonner! Bonner! Bonner!”

Spurs forward Matt Bonner didn’t make a key 3-pointer, or throw down a rare dunk in Friday’s victory over Boston. No, Bonner was celebrated for nearly coming to blows with Marcus Smart after the Celtics rookie struck him in the groin with a flailing blow in the fourth quarter.

Always a fan favorite despite his modest production, Bonner was touched and honored by the support.

“It meant a lot to hear the crowd chanting my name,” he said. “It filled me with pride to be a Spur and to be able to play in front of such great fans.”

Smart, on the other hand, won't be playing in front of the Boston faithful at TD Garden on Sunday. The Celtics enter the day's action at 30-38, a half-game up on the Indiana Pacers and Charlotte Hornets, and a full game clear of the Brooklyn Nets, in the race for the East's No. 8 seed. They'll look to halt their two-game skid against a Pistons club that's posted a 3-11 record over the past month, but that has scored two impressive wins this week, topping the playoff-bound Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday and Chicago Bulls on Saturday.


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Dan Devine is an editor for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at devine@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!



Stay connected with Ball Don't Lie on Twitter @YahooBDL, "Like" BDL on Facebook and follow Dunks Don't Lie on Tumblr for year-round NBA talk, jokes and more.






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United down 10-man Liverpool

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Juan Mata struck twice for United in a 2-1 win over Liverpool who had Steven Gerrard sent off for a stamp.


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London – Juan Mata struck twice, including a sublime volley, for Manchester United in a 2-1 Premier League victory over Liverpool who had Steven Gerrard sent off for a stamp at Anfield on Sunday.


Mata’s neat finish put United ahead on 14 minutes before Liverpool halftime substitute Gerrard was sent off less than a minute into the second period for stamping on Ander Herrera.


Spaniard Mata’s stunning left-foot volley put United 2-0 up before Daniel Sturridge pulled a goal back for Liverpool. Wayne Rooney missed the chance to add a third for United when Simon Mignolet saved his injury-time penalty.


Fourth-placed United have 59 points from 30 matches, five more than Liverpool in fifth. Leaders Chelsea will seek to regain their six-point advantage over Manchester City with victory over Hull City later on Sunday, while struggling Queens Park Rangers host Everton. – Reuters






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Palace boss berates own player for dive

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Palace manager Alan Pardew has berated James McArthur for a dive in their win at Stoke on Saturday.


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London – Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew has berated his own player James McArthur for a dive in the Premier League win at Stoke on Saturday, saying the midfielder should feel embarrassed.


McArthur was booked for simulation early in the second half at the Britannia Stadium after going down in the penalty area.


“He dived,” Pardew told Sky Sports on Sunday. “He should be embarrassed. He's a great professional and that's unlike him.


“We keep moaning about diving but it grates on me. I was surprised but it shows what pressure does to players.


“I haven’t spoken to him about it but I don't need to. He will see the replay and he will be embarrassed.”


Palace won 2-1 and sit 11th in the standings. – Reuters






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News sport : Ohio State wrestling honors Kosta Karageorge as it wins title

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As Ohio State won its first team wrestling national title on Saturday, its wrestlers wore the initials of Kosta Karageorge on their uniforms.


The team wore "KK" in a black band on above the left chest of their uniforms.






After going missing in November, Karageorge was found dead in a dumpster from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was a walk-on on the Ohio State football team and also a member of the wrestling team.


En route to its national championship in January, Ohio State football players wore stickers with Karageorge's number on their helmets and teammate Michael Bennett wore Karageorge's No. 53.


As the Buckeyes won the national wrestling title on Saturday, Logan Stieber became the fourth NCAA wrestler to win national titles in all four of his seasons.


For more Ohio State news, visit BuckeyeGrove.com.


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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!







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Refs’ chief calls for video technology

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Albion’s Gareth McAuley was wrongly shown the red card on Saturday, prompting a new call for video technology.


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London – Video technology should be introduced to English football to help referees avoid errors after West Bromwich Albion defender Gareth McAuley was sent off in a case of mistaken identity on Saturday, referees’ chief Mike Riley said.


McAuley was shown the red card after 90 seconds against Manchester City when referee Neil Swarbrick failed to identify Craig Dawson as the culprit in bringing down Wilfried Bony when he was through on goal.


Manchester City went on to win the game 3-0.


“We need to see what technology we can use to help get referees’ decisions more accurate,” Riley, head of the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL), told BBC radio. “Football as a whole has to look at it.”


“Neil had four or five elements to judge in half a second and it is that type of situation that would lend itself to technology.”


Riley said that he had spoken to Swarbrick after Saturday’s match at the Etihad Stadium.


“All referees want to make correct decisions and when you don’t do that, you feel you’ve let yourself and your colleagues down,” he said.


“We need to make sure the next time Neil referees, he has learned from the experience and will be a better referee because of it.”


Sunderland defender Wes Brown had his red card against Manchester United rescinded earlier this month after referee Roger East dismissed him for a foul on Radamel Falcao despite replays suggesting team mate John O’Shea committed the offence.


Riley said he had been to the Netherlands with PGMOL performance director and former Premier League referee Howard Webb to study the Dutch Football Association’s (KNVB) policy of using replays to aid referee’s decision making via a headset.


“Technology doesn’t provide a solution to everything but we can all think of cases where a quick reference to a video replay would help us get the decision right,” he added.


Frustrated West Brom manager Tony Pulis also called for video technology to be introduced after his side’s defeat.


“In the modern world today refereeing is a tough job,” Pulis told BBC Sport.


“If we can help them with a 30-second call-back option, say two times in a game, it would stop us talking about the referees and more about the game itself.” – Reuters






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Gill to lead FA crusade against Blatter

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Former United chief David Gill looks set to take the FA’s fight against Sepp Blatter into Fifa’s Exco.


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London – Former Manchester United chief executive David Gill will become one of the “awkward squad” asking the difficult questions if he is elected as Britain’s Fifa vice-president, English FA chairman Greg Dyke said.


Gill, 57, is standing against Wales’ Trefor Lloyd Hughes and is expected to be elected when delegates from UEFA’s 54 countries vote at their annual congress in Vienna on Tuesday.


Dyke reaffirmed has own opposition to Fifa president Sepp Blatter remaining in office and said that if the Swiss should win the presidential vote as expected in May, Gill would be an alternative voice to the “acolytes” on Fifa’s executive committee.


“David will be the sort of person who will not be afraid of asking appropriate questions – in fact perhaps Fifa needs to have someone from the awkward squad asking tough questions,” Dyke told a select group of soccer writers.


“He has a strong background in finance so if there are financial questions he will know what to ask and what to look for.


“There is a feeling that there have been too many acolytes and not enough people asking difficult questions and ensuring that decisions are taken in a transparent, ethical and business-like manner.


“The UEFA president, Michel Platini was very keen for David to stand for the position and to represent UEFA on the FIFA executive committee.”


CHANGED MIND


Gill, a member of the UEFA executive, changed his mind about not standing for the position which becomes vacant when Northern Ireland’s Jim Boyce retires after the Fifa Congress in May.


He has made no secret of his distaste for Blatter, who will be standing for a fifth term in office.


Gill recently said it was time the 79-year-old Blatter left.


“I aim to use my skills in football around the table and work with my UEFA colleagues to have a greater say and influence in how it operates. In terms of votes it’s quite an important block,” he said.


“In areas like transparency and decision-making, it’s not going to happen overnight and it’s arguable whether it will happen unless there is a change of president.


“My personal view is that it needs a change at the top to ensure that the required changes take place. I’m not naive enough to think I can change things overnight.”


Gill walked out of meeting with Blatter last year saying his behaviour was “totally unacceptable” after he branded the British media as racist following stories regarding the bidding process for the World Cups in Russia and Qatar. – Reuters






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Busquets fit to face Real

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Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets has recovered from injury and is fit to face Real in the La Liga, the club says.


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Barcelona – Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets has recovered from injury and was fit to face Real Madrid in La Liga on Sunday, the club has confirmed.


Busquets suffered an ankle injury in Barcelona’s King’s Cup victory over Villarreal at the start of March and has missed their last three games.


“The first team player Sergio Busquets has been passed fit,” said a club statement.


The home-grown player is a stalwart of Luis Enrique’s side providing cover in midfield for Barca’s more creative players but it was unclear whether he will start the El Clasico.


If he was only fit for the bench then Javier Mascherano will be the logical replacement to fulfil the role which he did successfully in Barcelona’s Champions League victory over Manchester City last Wednesday.


Barca are hoping for a win over Real which will send them four points clear at the top of the table. – Reuters






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News sport : Sunday lookahead: In-state showdown highlights loaded slate

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The only silver lining to Friday's chalk-filled, drama-free slate was that it set up a pretty incredible Sunday teeming with compelling matchups. Here's a primer to get you ready for the second day of the NCAA tournament's round of 32:


1. Which Sunflower State program will emerge with bragging rights? More than just a bid to the Sweet 16 will be on the line when in-state foes Wichita State and Kansas meet in Omaha on Sunday. The game will also determine which fan base has bragging rights until the programs someday meet again. Wichita State has been clamoring for a shot at Kansas since even before the Shockers ascended to national relevance with three straight 30-plus win seasons. The Jayhawks have a chance to remind Wichita State it should be careful what it wishes for if they oust the Shockers from the NCAA tournament. The game itself may come down to whether Wichita State can defend Perry Ellis in the paint and keep Kansas off the offensive glass. The seventh-seeded Shockers have a backcourt as good as any in the nation, but they're undersized in the frontcourt and will probably start 6-foot-4 guard Evan Wessel on Ellis.


2. Is either No. 1 seed in jeopardy on Sunday? Unless San Diego State enjoys a second straight unusually good outside shooting game against top-seeded Duke, it's probably fellow No. 1 seed Wisconsin that has the slightly tougher matchup The Badgers have to contend with an eighth-seeded Oregon team that has won 13 of its past 15 games and has the perimeter quickness to spread Wisconsin out and challenge its defenders to stay in front of their man. Pac-12 player of the year Joseph Young lit up Wisconsin for 29 points in an 85-77 NCAA tournament loss last March, but the supporting cast around the Oregon star is totally different than a year ago. Of the players on Oregon's curent roster, only Elgin Cook and Young got into the game against the Badgers last March. While Wisconsin could struggle defensively against Oregon, it should have no trouble imposing its will on the Ducks at the other end. Oregon's soft pressure and zone defense should be no match for a highly efficient Badgers offense with too much size for the Ducks in the paint.


3. Will Gonzaga reach its first Sweet 16 since 2009?


Five times in the last five years, Gonzaga has made the NCAA tournament's round of 32 only to fail to win its next game. The Zags will try to break that streak Sunday against a mercurial Iowa team that has proven it can be dangerous when playing well. At their best, the Hawkeyes have won at North Carolina and Ohio State and pounded 10th-seeded Davidson on Thursday in the opening round. At their worst, the Hawkeyes suffered bad losses to Northwestern and Minnesota and were unceremoniously dumped early in the Big Ten tournament by Penn State. The key for Gonzaga could be how it defends high-scoring forward Aaron White and whether it can keep Iowa off the offensive glass. The 6-foot-9 White has scored 21 or more points in each of Iowa's last six games.


4. Can Virginia avenge last year's Sweet 16 loss to Michigan State?


An already wide-open East Region is even more up-for-grabs after NC State unceremoniously knocked top seed Villanova out of the NCAA tournament Saturday night. Two programs capable of taking advantage meet Sunday afternoon in the round of 32 with a berth in the Sweet 16 at stake. The last time Michigan State and Virginia met, the Spartans earned a hard-fought 61-59 win in the Sweet 16 last year. Three Michigan State players and two Virginia players logged at least 28 minutes in that game are gone, but the quest for revenge remains a motivating factor for the Cavaliers. Whether Virginia gets it could depend on if it gets a second straight strong game from wing Justin Anderson, the team's second-leading scorer who missed time with a fractured finger and with appendicitis in recent weeks. Anderson had 15 points in Virginia's opening round win over Belmont after being shut out in two NCAA tournament games.


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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!







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Fifa ‘more influential than religion’

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Fifa has more influence than any religion, its chief Joseph Blatter has told a Swiss newspaper.


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Zurich – Football’s world governing body Fifa has more influence than any religion, its president Sepp Blatter has said in a Swiss newspaper interview.


“Fifa is more influential than any country in the world and every religion due to the positive emotions it releases,” Blatter told Sonntags-Zeitung.


“We move masses. We want to use this to create more peace, justice and health in the world.”


Blatter, 79, said if he was re-elected Fifa president at the Fifa Congress on May 29 he would continue the federation’s reform process.


“We have to do everything to raise Fifa’s credibility,” he said.


Blatter said he want to continue as Fifa president “because the majority of the federations” wanted him to stay.


“I believe in God and I believe in myself. That’s why I can fulfil my duties independently of age,” he said.


Blatter is seeking to win a fifth term in the May 29 election in Zurich.


Former Portuguese international Luis Figo, Netherlands Football Association chairman Michael van Praag and Jordan Football Association president Prince Ali bin al Hussein are the other candidates. All three have been backed by various European federations. – Sapa-dpa






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Leopards show Chiefs exit door

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The Leopards advanced to the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals after shocking the Chiefs at FNB Stadium last night.


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Black Leopards progressed to the quarter-finals of the Nedbank Cup after they shocked Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 at the FNB Stadium last night.


Goals from Morgan Shivambu in the 20th minute and Roggert Nyundu in added time were enough to see the NFD side through to the last eight of Ke Yona Cup.


Chiefs appeared to be frustrated by Leopards’ defence in the first half, while José Marques’ charges sauntered through to the second stanza with a 1-0 lead.


Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter was sent off after he had made his views known to referee Daniel Bennett that he didn’t approve of his decision to allow play to continue, after his player, Mandla Masango was, appeared to have been fouled inside the box in the 40th minute.


Baxter walked away from the sidelines frustrated while his assistant, Doctor Khumalo, tried to plead his case with the referee with no success as Bennett was not willing to budge.


Leopards’ opener came in the 20th minute following a failed clearance from Amakhosi’s defence after a corner. Morgan Shivambu made perfect use of the opportunity inside the box to beat Amakhosi goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse who was out his line.


Chiefs had their chances but Lidoda Duvha were equal to the task.


Leopards defended heroically, thwarting every chance Amakhosi created.


David Zulu could have given the Glamour Boys an early lead in the 16th minute when Matthew Rusike’s pass found him unmarked outside the box. Amakhosi’s new recruit, however, lacked composure as his shot screamed over the crossbar.


Amakhosi were presented with another chance to even matters five minutes after they had conceded when they were awarded a set piece outside the box. But George Maluleka’s long range effort failed to trouble Leopards ’keeper Avhashoni Tshinuna as he pulled off a comfortable save.


Both sides showed aggression going forward in the second half but it was Leopards who had the upper hand at the end of full time.


Amakhosi’s equaliser came in the 75th minute when substitute Siphiwe Tshabalala’s cross was headed home by Zimbabwean international Willard Katsande.


But Lidoda Duvha did not lose heart as they continued to work out ways to outplay Amakhosi’s defence.


Roggert Nyundu scored a late winner for the Limpopo outfit, beating Pieterse in stoppage time. – The Sunday Independent






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